It's sad how many pedestrian players are getting paid huge amounts of money that a guy like Hudler at 2.8 is a "good" deal. New NHL for ya, jesus. In anycase, got no time for Hudler. We could've used those PP goals and healthy season over here you jackass, I hope the hookers are doing you well.

Thumbs down to Frolov as well, what do he and Leino have in common? They've both been benched for lazy unmotivated play this year. What else do they have in common? Hopefully neither is on the Wings next year. I'd rather spend the money on a guy that can score goals but is a tireless worker as well, that's what we need. (And a healthier roster..)

Leino is damn near out of the lineup, Frolov was benched one game; no comparison. He has 27 points on the season (more than all but 2 of our players) and is a 20 goal scorer. He would be a great addition to our 2nd line and could probably be signed for 3.5-4m. I'd take him.

It would be crazy not to welcome Huds back at his salary and ability. He knows the Red Wings system, which is known as being a completely different system, as well as a complex one. Bertuzzi said that was one of the reasons he struggled his first go a round with the Wings.

I would be overjoyed if Huddles came back. He can bury the puck and for me, he is a joy to watch. He's happy to be out there every second of the game.

Hudler!!

"If you didn't know him, and saw him without hockey gear, you'd never suspect Datsyuk to be a world-class athlete. He walks a bit hunched over. His gait is somewhat crab-like, almost like he's still skating, even on dry land.

But put him on skates and he's Houdini on ice. He is not the fastest skater by a long shot, but there can't be too many who are stronger or more flexible. Checking him has to feel like checking Gumby. You might get a piece of him, but he bounces away, moving faster thanks to the leverage he gained from your check."

Leino is damn near out of the lineup, Frolov was benched one game; no comparison. He has 27 points on the season (more than all but 2 of our players) and is a 20 goal scorer. He would be a great addition to our 2nd line and could probably be signed for 3.5-4m. I'd take him.

So let me guess this straight... you would rather have Frolov for 3.5-4 mill than Hudler at 2.8? You seem to think that Frolov is better than Hudler. He is not. You do realise that last year Frolov only had 2 more points than Hudler (with 2 more games) despite generally being in the top 6 and had well over a 20 game stretch with Kopitar, right?. In addition he has a history of being lazy (he may have only been scrathed once this year, but has been prior to this season, and would have been more had he been playing for a team like detroit with an abundent of forwards and a babcock like coach), and also has a history of being horrendeously defensivily responsible.

Your arguement is that Hudler produced a large number of his points on the powerplay, and that is true, but last I checked they both count the same, and you vastly overate Frolovs impact on a game to game basis. In no shape or form is Frolov better than Hudler is now, let alone will be. Frolov may be marginally better on a 2nd line wing due to his speed(though this is an EXTREMELY unfair comparison seeing as Hudler never got a real chance on the 2nd line), but overall Hudler gives you far more gang for your buck and minutes, and in my mind has more natural talent than Frolov.

I just cannot see how you can justify paying a free agent a million more for worse overall production, worse defensive ability, worse attitude

So for a quick recap...Point Production: While they both put up similar numbers, Hudler is still developing and could easily surpass Frolov, all the while getting substancially less minutes with largely inferior linemates. Hudler wins this catagory easily.

Defense Responsibility: Hudler is no selke winner, but he is bounds ahead of Frolov

Attitude: Hudler was scratched several times, but at the past several years has severly improved his work ethic, and now even has a slight fiestiness about him. Neither will ever win a battle in the corner consistently, but at least Hudler tries to.

Salary: Hudler. Non debatable.

If given a choice, I'd take the better younger, less lazy, more responsible and productive player who will play for less rather than the more expensive one dimensional one.

So based only on a chance that Hudler will continue to get better and grow, he easily wins the point production category despite Frolov's career PPG (.71) murdering Hudler's? (.49) and having had a 71 point season? Frolov will do better on our second line that Hudler. Not debatable. bigger. Faster. Proven.

Your defensive prognosis is I'm sure based off absolutely nothing. Frolov is faster and much, much bigger than Hudler (ie +physicality). Not only that, he plays on the PK! Last year he had 187 minutes on the PK. Anyone want to guess Hudler's PK time last season? Anyone? Anyone? uhh........49 seconds.

He is still making far more than the average person makes. He was being greedy and I hope hie is having fun in the Mafia league.

You can use that "more money" debate with practically any other nhl player. People's lifestyles adjust to their salaries. If you had a chance to jump jobs from a company that paid you less than you felt you were worth for twice the pay and a promotion in responsibility/power, you would do it. He did nothing diffirent than every other FA who has left us in the past has done before.

I have lost a lot of respect for Hudler after he decided to ditch to the KHL, but I can recognize that he is a solid forward although I never thought he had any upside as a two-way forward like most of our players. I wouldn't mind him coming back, but if it means we lose the chance at signing a good FA or something then I would want him to stay put.

So based only on a chance that Hudler will continue to get better and grow, he easily wins the point production category despite Frolov's career PPG (.71) murdering Hudler's? (.49) and having had a 71 point season?

Your defensive prognosis is I'm sure based off of nothing. Frolov is faster and much, much bigger than Hudler (ie +physicality). Not only that, he plays on the PK! Last year he had 187 minutes on the PK. Anyone want to guess Hudler's PK time last season? Anyone? Anyone? uhh........49 seconds.

Attitude? HUDLER JUST LEFT FOR RUSSIA!

Salary. Yes, good math skills: 2.8 is in fact less than 3.5-4.

Your ability to not comprehend situational numbers is distressing and makes me lose faith in the public school system. Career PPG's mean absoloutly NOTHING in this situation. By your logic the Wing's would be better off coaxing Wayne Gretzky out of retirement than either.

Hudler had two developmental seasons as a 22-23 year old, playing on the 4 line with the likes of Aaron downey. Last year is the only year Hudler had even close to the same amount of time than frolov and easily outscored him in points per minute, with far inferior linemates. It is a compeltly asinine statement to say that Hudler would not have put up more points than Frolov did last year if he had his time and linemates. Also Hudler is still improving, meanwhile Frolov is on pave for what is it? 40 something points?

If you honestly think the numbers you pulled up our fair comparisons, then please tell me as I won't further waste my time trying to educate someone with the inability to take things in context, though I'd like to think you were just doing that on purpose to smear the real issue. No one asked about who was the better player 5 years ago, they are asking now. Hudler has more upside potential still being only 24, and is a much more complete player than Frolov was at 24, and is only going to get better. Frolov on the otherhand seems to be on decline.

Also considering that FROLOV WILL BE LEAVING FOR DETROIT LULZ in your hypothetical situation, many L.A. Fans would be able to say the same thing about Frolov as you are saying about Hudler. Learn to take things in context. These players are professionals, I seriously doubt they all have a huge grudge against Hudler, and I'd rather have a hardworking player than one who has work ethic problems (notice I didn't say a history).

In short, I ask you reflect on what Holland would do given the current situation. I can gurantee you he would rather have Hudler at 2.8 than Frolov at 3.5-4 (which he wouldn't sign for anyways).

Edit: As for the PK part, you are correct he did play for the PK for the King's, but I sincerely doubt that he would be for the Wings. The diffirence in levels of depth makes the point moot, though I will say I was suprised when you brought that statistic up.

He is still making far more than the average person makes. He was being greedy and I hope hie is having fun in the Mafia league.

Hudler was making 1.15 on an RFA contract. He was due for a raise. I forget offhand what he got in arbitration, but I believe it was just over 2. In the KHL he's making something like 5 per year.(I'm going from memory. If someone remembers exactly, please correct me.)

So let me ask you this:Suppose you are making $20,000 a year at your job. You know you deserve a raise. Your boss says they can't fit it into the budget right now.

Do you:a) keep working for $20,000 a year.b) go to a competitor who will pay you what you are worth (~$40,000) and take the risk of never returning.c) make an agreement to come back to your company for $40,000 per year when they can afford you, and then go to a non-competitor and make $80,000 for a couple of years whilst gaining valuable experience that will serve you well when you return to your own company.

I've been with the same company for 11 years, and I know what I'd do. I'd take option C.